Stationary commutator-type tabulator



1930. J. w. BRYCE 1,775,117

' suitor! COIIUTA'I'OR TYPE 'mwu'ton I Filed Nov. 18. 1926 4 Shoots-Shoat 1 Zlnventoz JAMES N- BH YCE Sept. 9,1930. 7 J. w.-BRYcE v 1,175,117

I s'l'ATIO'AIY COIIUTATOR TYPE TABUL Ai OR Filed Nov. 1a, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet s.

gum/"tot JAMES M BRYCE Sept. 9, 1930. J. w. BRYCE I STAIOIARY CQIIUTATQR TYPE TABULAIQR Filed Nov. 18. 1926 4 swam-s11;v 4

avwemtoz JAMES M BRYCE 35$; awn/mm:

Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMIE W. BRYCE, OF BLOOMFIELD. NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE TAIBULATING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY STATIONARY COMMUTATOR-TYPE TABULATOR Application filed November 18, 1926. Serial No. 149,179.

This invention relates to improvements in accounting machines and more particularly is directed to improvements in devices used in accounting machines for deriving a reading from an entry receiving device and controlling another mechanism thereby.

- The present invention has for its object the simplification of such reading devices as heretofore proposed.

According to the present invention some moving parts are dispensed with and in place of rotatable commutators stationary commutators are provided. 7

Further and additional objects will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying specification and claims.

The above objects and others which will be apparent as the nature of the invention is disclosed are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing a stationary commutator having conductive segments spaced around its periphery in positions corresponding to the various controlling positions of the associated accounting mechanism. The device is designed to operate in conjunc tion with mechanism having parts which are controlled in position in accordance with various data. These devices may be entry receiving devices of any sort and may be accumulators such as are commonly employed in the tabulating art and if accumulators are employed they ma be used with or without visible index whee s.- In any case a denominational order element is included which indicates by its posit-ion the data entered into the device.

In accordance with the present invention a movable brush is associated with the denominational order elements of an accounting device and is positively connected thereto by suitable gearing or otherwise in such manner that the angular position of the brush is determined by that of the denominational order element and indicates a number or character with which it is desired to operate suitable responsive mechanism. The movable brush.

cooperates with the above mentioned station- .ary commutator and energizes a particular segment thereof depending upon its angular position. Consequently each segment is energized by the movable brush only when it is desired to enter a particular character into the associated mechanism.

Each segment of the first commutator is connected to a corresponding segment of a second commutator and over this second com mutator a reading brush is adapted to sweep. The second brush which will be herein called the reading brush is moved in synchronism with the mechanism which it is desired to con trol and completes the circuit thereto at a time corresponding to the position of the energized commutator segment.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims appended hereto the invention itself, as to its 0 jects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection wit-h the accompanying drawings forming a-part thereof in which:

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of a tabulating machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the commutator mechanism employed therein;

Fig. 3 is aplan View partly in section of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the reading brush shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of printing mechanism common in tubulating machines:

Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations of the commutators employed in rinting fractions.

Referring to the lgures more in detail the various connections and control mechanism employed in conjunction with a common type of printing t-abulator is shown diagrammati cally in Fig. 1. Tabulating motor TM is controlled by means of cooperating contacts and relays indicated generally at 10 to drive the tabulating machine during accumulating and listing operations. Reset motor RM, controlled by associated relays ll,'is employed for driving the printing device and tabulating device during the process of taking the total and resettingthe accumulator wheels. The machine itself is controlled in response to ma ets G and group control contacts GC. I

he various circuits just mentioned which are used to control and operate the tabulat- -ing machine are well known in the art and for a more detailed description thereof reference may be made to the applications of Clair D. Lake Serial No. 639,153, filed May 15, 1923 and Serial No. 47,298 filed July 31, 1925. Inasmuch as the above mentioned circuits form no part of this invention a more detailed explanation will not be given herein.

The total taking mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention comprises printing ma nets 16 and commutator. 41 with whichmova le brushes 42 cooperate. 00111- mutator 41 is divided into a series of conducting segments which are spaced along its periphery in accordance with the controlling or digit positions of the associated accumulators. particular conducting segment is energized in each position of the accumulator wheel in a manner which will be later described. As brushes 42 which move in synchronism with the type bars of the printing mechanism sweep past the various segments of commutator 41 they complete a circuit at a time corresponding to the number entered into the accumulator which energizes the printing magnet 16 and controls the type associated therewith in the usual manner.

This is further illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein the energization of printing magnet 16 releases detent 24 and allows pawl 25 to engage the corresponding notch in the type carrier 26 and retain the type carrier in that partic-v ular position. The total taking mechanism is rocked by means of arm 27 which is driven in accordance with cam 28 and in synchronism with the moving of type carriers 26. The driving mechanism for these rocking shafts and type carriers is a feature well known in the art and disclosed in the above mentioned applications of C. D. Lake.

The device in accordance with which it is desired to control the type bars may be an.

of a denominational-order element is de scribed in this application as applying to a bank of printing elements or type bars and control mechanism therefor. However, in

place of printing magnets 16 the device can be used to control any other desired type of .data controlled mechanism.

Referring again to Fig. 2 circular statlonary commutator 32 supported upon frame 33 is divided'into a pluralit of insulatin and conducting segments. lovable Jams 35 is rigidly attached to gear wheel 36 and revolves in' conjunction therewith. Gear wheel 36 is mechanically geared to denominational order element 30 in such manner that brush 35 makes one revolution while element 30 is making two complete revolutions.

Conse uently, commutator-32 is divided into I 20 con ucting segments so spaced around its periphery that brush 35 contacts first one set of 10 segments and the other set for each complete revolution of element 30. The brush and commutator structure is shown more in detail in Fig. 3 in which sections are taken through diflerent parts of the commutator. Brush 35 completes a circuit between conducting ring 40 and the conducting segment of commutator 32 with which it at any instant makes a contact. The various segments of fixed commutator 32 are wired tothe corresponding numbered segments of another commutator 41. It vwill be understood that like numbered segments on commutator 32care electrically connected. As

previously described a reading brush 42 is adapted to sweep over the contacts or seg ments of commutator 41. If for example brush 35 is making contact with a segment corresponding to the 5 position indicating that denominational order element 30 is set up in accordance with the digit 5 brush 42 in sweeping across the face of commutator 41 will complete a circuit at the time it travcrses live segment number 5 which is connected to the 5 segment on commutator 32. Inasmuch as brush 42 is moving in synchronism with the mechanism to be controlled thereby obviously the current impulse may be employed in the usual manner for operating that mechanism. In order to avoid the difliculty of bringing current to a movable brush the circuit is completed through conducting sector 43 (Fig. 3) with which the brush is in contact at all times while it is traversing commutator 41. t Means is provided for lifting brush 42 from the surface of commutator 41 during its return movement in order not to damage the brush and so as not to again complete a circuit and give a falsereadin when the brush is being restored to its initlal position. This means is disclosed in Figs, 2, 3 and 4 and comprises an arm 50 which is rigidly attached to shaft 51 at one end and at its other end carries pin 52 about which bellcranklever 53 is free to rotate. Shaft 51'is rotated in conjunction with bar 27 by means of rack 54 and pinion 55. Bell crank lever'53 carries the brush holder for brushes 42 at one end and at the other end is ivoted to arm 56 journalled on shaft 51 but flee to rotate independently thereof. Arm 56 is prevented from free rotation, however, by friction bearing 60. U n' rotation of shaft 51 arm 56 will lag be ind arm 50 in its movement as a result of the friction of bearing 60 and in so doing rotates bell crank lever 53 about its pivot 52 forcing brush 42 against commutator 41. Upon reverse or counterclockwise movement of shaft 51 arm 56 will again lag behind arm 50. This time, however, it rotates lever 53 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot and removes brush 42 from commutator 41. Stops 61 are provided to prevent excessive movement of the bell crank lever. v

The arrangement in the device has been found particularly useful in total taking mechanism used in connection with accumulators adding in fractional subunits other than tenths. Heretofore lost motion connections of some sort have been necessary to adapt the total taking mechanism to such fractional accumulators but under the present system the necessity of such lost motion connections is obviated.

It is customary in recording fractions on tabulating cards to perforate the number indicating the numerator of the fraction only, particular card columns being chosen for fractions of different denominations. For all fractions less than tenths there is a cer-" tain portion of the card column which is never punched; for example-in a card column representing sevenths the six index point is the highest that would be used. In this case the counter wheel representing sevenths should be capable of making a complete revolution While the analyzin brushes are passing from the seventh to t e zero index point positions of the cards. gear ratio for'this result may be clearly understood by considering briefly the gearing for the usual tenths counters. It may be assumed that the tabulating shaft makes one complete revolution for each machine cycle and that the machine cycle is as usual divided into fourteen points. During any cycle the maximum number of points through which a tenths counter wheel need move under control of'the analyzing mechanism is nine, this being in response to a perforation in the nine index point position on a record card. During'any cycle, also, an additional movement of one point on. the counter wheel may be necessary on account of transferring, thus making a total of ten points through which a tenths counter wheel may move during a machine cycle. Obviously a gear ratio of 14: 10 would be required between the tabulating shaft and the tenths counter wheels' The proper in such a fourteen point machine. The same rinciples hold true for the fraction wheels ut here each wheel must make one complete revolution or a factored portion of a revolution while the analyzing mechanism is searching that portion of a card field in which numerators of the particular 'fractionmay occur. Acounter wheel representing sevenths may be moved six points under control of perforations on a record card and-an additional point for transfer or a possible total of seven points during a machine cycle while the tab ulating shaft is making one complete revolution or moving through fourteen points. The gear ratio between the tabulating shaft and the sevenths counter wheel then must be 14 7. Very often it is more convenient to mark several sets of numerators around the peripheries of the fraction wheels which represent the smaller denominations and effect transfer after the wheel has moved through each complete set. In this case the gearing to the tabulating shaft must provide for moving the counter wheel through a fraction of a revolution only while the shaft is making something less than a complete revolution. A thirds counter wheel, for example, according to the principles stated above in connection with the sevenths wheel, would require a gear ratio of 14:3 necessitating the use of a very large gear wheel on the tabulating shaft. The same results could be obtained by using a gear ratio of 14:9 and inscribing three complete sets of numerators about the periphery of the counter wheel, in which event the fraction wheel would move through only a third of a revolution before transferring. The use of the smaller gear ratio conserves considerable space which is an important item in these machines. The fraction wheels of course, effect transferring after they have turned through one complete set of numerators regardless of whether one or more sets is represented on their periphery. An arrangement for taking the totals of eighths is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 6 in which the numeral wheel 131, suitably geared to the tabulating shaft, andhaving its periphery divided into eighths, drives the gear wheel 130 which meshes with the gear wheel 136. The latter carries a brush 135 which as the gear 136 rotates wipes the segments of the commutator 132. This commutator comprises a continuous ring adapted to be bridged to insulated segments 150 of which there are one less in number than the Y denominator of the fraction which the system represents. In the present case there are seven, the segments being numbered one to seven, inclusive. As in the case of adding tenths the gear 136 is adapted to make onehalf a revolution for each revolution of the counter wheel 131 and two sets of commutator segments are provided, the corresponding segments in each set being electrically connected to each other and also being connected to a corresponding segment in stationary commutator 141. The brush 142 is geared to a sector on the rock shaft which is rocked during total taking by the arm 27 and causes the brush to wipe over the segments of the commutator 141. This movement of the brush 142 is synchronous with the movement of the type bars, and consequently the proper type will be selected for printing to represent any fractional numerator which might be standing on the counter wheel 131. The 8 and 9 segments on the commutator 141 and the 8 and 9 type on the type bar do not enter into this totalingoperation and might be omitted if desired, although obviously the scheme permits the use of standard commutator and type bars. In this way the usual printing bars can be used for printing the fractions and the brush 142'will properly energize the printing call magnet to print the fraction represented by any energized segment on the commutator 141. Fig. 7 illustrates an arrangement for accumulating and printing sixths. In this case the highest numerator which will occur is 5 and therefore two complete setsof figures may be designated or represented on the counter wheel 231- and the latter properly geared to the tabulating shaft so that it will make 1/12 of a revolution when the analyzing brushes are passing from one index pointv to the next. In this case the commutator 232 corresponding to the commutator 132 in Fi 6 is provided with four sets of segments eac consisting of five units. .Corresponding seg ments of each set are connected together and likewise connected to corresponding segments of a stationary commutator 241. The brush 242 will be 0 erative only on the first five segments of t e commutator 241 and may stop a type bar in any one of its first five posltions. The,remaining segments of the commutator 241 are unconnecte'tl but as before this commutator may be standard. Fractions of any denominator up to ten may be accumulated and printed by this device without the use of any lost motion connections. The fractions are recorded on the record cards in a tenths system transferred to a counter wheel in their true fractional value, then converted by thecommutator back to a-tenths reading system and finally printed in a tenths system.

Although this invention has been shown and described as applied to a particular ap-' paratus operating in a specific manner it is not to be limited thereto but only in accordance with the scope of the invention as decorresponding to the data standing on said await? I accumulating means and comprising a stationary commutator and a. movablebru'lh associated therewith with means for relatively positioning said brush with'respect to said commutator according to the data, and means for converting said set ups into differentially timed electrical impulses.

2. In a data controlled device, accumulating means for receiving and totalizing data entries, means for effecting set ups corresponding to the data standing .on said accumulating means and comprising a stationary commutator and a movable brush with means for positioning said brush according to the data and means for deriving a reading in accordanoe with position of said brush comprising a second stationary commutator and a movable brush for operating therewith.

3. In an accounting machine including denominational order elements by means of which entries in accordance with data are received and accumulated, means for deriving data from said elements com rising a stationary commutator and brus es associated therewith, means for positioning one of said brushes in accordance with the position of said elements and means for deriving a reading from said commutator comprising a second movable brush. 1

4. In an accounting machine provided with an accumulator having denominational order elements, total taking mechanism comprising stationary commutator segments for each ele- -ment and a pair of brushes adapted to cooperate therewith, one of said brushes being positioned in accordance with the osition of said elements and the otherof said brushes being adapted tosuccessively traverse said commutator segments andderive a reading therefrom. V

5. In an accounting machine including denominational order elements and printing mechanism, a total taking mechanism comprising a pairof stationary commutators each of said commutators being divided into segments corresponding to the various demoninat-ional order element positions, a brush cooperative with one of said commutators, said brush being positioned by said elements to make contact with a segment corresponding to the index position thereof, a second brush cooperating with the other of said commutators, said second brush being adapted to successively traverse the segments thereof and control an electric circuit for operating the printing mechanism in accordance with the amount set up on said elements.

\ 6. In an accounting. machine, total taking mechanism comprising a stationary commutator and a movable brush adapted to cooperate therewith, means for causing said brush to make contact with said commutator upon movement in one direction and means for breaking said contact upon movement in the other direction.

7. In an accounting machine, total taking mechanism comprising a stationary commutator and a movable brush adapted to co-' operate therewith, a rock shaft for actuating said brush and means comprising an arm loosely mounted on said shaft and retained in a friction bearing for causingsaid brush to make contact with said commutator when said shaft is rotated'in one direction and for breaking said contact when said shaft is operated in the opposite direction.

8. In an accounting-machine, a plurality of entry receiving elements adapted to receive and accumulate successive data entries, a plurality of stationary commutator-s, brushes cooperating therewith, one of said brushes being controlled in position according to the data indicating position of one of said elements and another of said brushes bemutator and derive said data therefrom.

9. An accounting machine for adding and printing data represented in fractions other than tenths, comprising a tabulating shaft, a fractional counter wheel and means for ef- -fecting a continuous driving connection with said shaft, total taking mechanism comprising an element automatically set by the said counter wheel and a searching device for determining the setting of said element and means controlled by said searching device for translating a setting into an indication.

10. An accounting machine adapted to totalize generally according to a decimal system, comprising an adder element for totalizing fractions other than tenths by differential movements according to the denominator of fraction, total taking mechanism for said fractional adder element comprising a translating device for translating the setting of said element into a decimal equivalenteand means responsive to said translating device for manifesting said decimalequivalent accordin to its original fractional value.

11. fn a machine of the class described means for receiving and retaining data entries, a stationarycommutator and a brush cooperating therewith and movable under control of said data receiving means in accordance with data readings thereon and means cooperating with the brush and commutator for representing the brush positions by differentially timed electrical impulses.

12. In a machine of the class described means for receiving and retaining data entries, stationary commutator means and a brush cooperating therewith and movable under control of said data receiving means in accordance with data readings thereon and means comprising a second movable brush cooperating with said commutator means for feeling out the position of the other brush and effecting diiierentially timedelectrical impulses according to the different positions thereof.

ing adapted to analyze its cooperating com- 13. In a machine of the class described means for receiving and retaining data entries, stationary commutator means having contact points corresponding to the possible I data on said receiving means, a brush coopnature.

JAMES W. BRYCE. 

